Almost three-quarters of Londoners (73%) say the cost-of-living crisis has made it more difficult for them to take action to help prevent climate change, new research has revealed.

In the fourth year of research polling by London Councils to gauge Londoners’ understanding of climate change, respondents also said that cost is a barrier which limits them from choosing greener heating or energy options, despite the fact that actions such as insulating their home could save them money in the long term.

Many living in the capital say they find the cost of investing in some energy-saving and money-saving measures too high, and of those surveyed who hadn’t already implemented energy saving methods, nearly a third (29%) said it was too expensive to replace gas heating with a lower carbon option, such as heat pump or electric storage heaters, and 34% said it was too expensive to install solar panels at home.

Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) who hadn’t already implemented energy saving methods agreed it was too expensive to pay to insulate their homes. Elsewhere in the survey, 60% said the cost-of-living crisis motivates them to do more on climate change if it also helps to reduce their costs.

According to London Councils, the capital’s local authorities are improving the social housing they own to make it more energy efficient, and are shifting how they use their planning powers so they incentivise developers to make newly-built homes and buildings energy efficient by design.

Local authorities are also working with partners to install EV charge points in convenient locations making it easier for people to switch to this greener form of transport, to date boroughs have installed over 15,000 EV charge points.

Overall, the vast majority (90%) of those surveyed said they are motivated to help prevent climate change.

Cllr Kieron Williams, London Councils’ Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Environment, said: “It is sobering to see that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis prevents Londoners from taking action on issues that are important to them, such an investing in climate action.

“68% of Londoners have grown more concerned about climate change over the past 12 months. It is inspiring to see that their motivation to take action to address climate change is consistently high year on year. Many are already making sustainable choices, such as recycling old clothes and electronics. However, almost three-quarters of Londoners say the cost-living-crisis is a significant barrier preventing them from investing in energy-saving measures.

“By committing to a London warm and green homes upgrade, we can bring down people’s energy usage, which in turn reduces bills and tackles fuel poverty. This is just one of the ways that climate action can contribute to equity and help disadvantaged Londoners.

“As COP28 begins and the world gathers to drive urgent solutions to the climate crisis, we must recognise that realising our climate goals will only be possible if everyone plays their part. London boroughs are in the very heart of our communities, and we have a clear understanding of how much they can achieve.

“Decision makers in London boroughs, national government and businesses must harness this motivation to bring in a new sustainable way of living that drives the green economy. That way, we can truly address the climate emergency, bring down people’s bills and bring in a greener, cleaner and healthier London from the ground up.”